In a tragic accident that has shaken Indian politics, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar lost his life in a charter aircraft crash in the Baramati area of Pune. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that all six people on board the aircraft were killed.
DGCA: No Survivors
In its official statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that, in addition to Ajit Pawar, a security officer, a cabin crew member, and two pilots also lost their lives in the accident. The statement said, “According to initial findings, no one on board the aircraft survived the crash.”
Eyewitnesses: There Was a Huge Explosion
Speaking to ANI, an eyewitness said the aircraft lost balance while descending, stating, “The aircraft crashed and then there was a huge explosion. The flames were very high; no one could help.”
According to information reported by PTI, the pilot informed air traffic control before landing that visibility around the runway was extremely low. During its landing attempt at Baramati Airport, the aircraft veered off the runway and caught fire.
Who Was on Board?
According to the passenger list released by the DGCA, the following individuals were on board the aircraft:
- Ajit Pawar
- Vidip Jadhav
- Pinki Mali
- Sumit Kapoor
- Shambhavi Pathak
- Pilot: Captain Sahil Madaan
Why Was Ajit Pawar Traveling to Baramati?
It was learned that Ajit Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to address the public at a rally to be held as part of the district council elections scheduled for February 5. Following the accident, condolence messages poured in from political leaders across India.
Technical Details of the Crashed Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the accident was reported to be a Learjet 45, a mid-size business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, and operated by the private charter company VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. Technical and judicial investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing.
